Automatic clutch device for motor vehicles and other applications



April 23, 1929. MAUVILLlER AUTOMATIC CLUTCH DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND OTHER APPLICATIONS Patented Apr. 23, 1 929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD MAUVILLIER, OF CASABLANCA, MOROCCO.

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND OTHER APPLICATIONS.

Application filed July 14, 1925, Serial No. 43,560, and in France March 4, 1925.

My invention relatesto an autonnitic clutch having neither articulation nor spriu which can be advantageously the object oil? numerous applications in motor vehicles, boats, tool-machines, dynamos starting under a load, starters for motors of all s} tours and of other mechanical applications.

This clutch is substantially constituted by an expanding ring connected to the driving; shatt and placed in the interior of a clutch cup which surrounds the expz'indiug ring and is rigidly connected to the driven shaft. The expanding: ring forms the mal part of the clutch and is constitutml by a s es of radial elements which under the action of centrifugal force move outwards in order to operate in the cup or female part. This action is enhanced by the elasticity of the material itscl forming the expandin ring.

W'hcn the driving shaft rotates slowly no clutching takes place but as soon as its speed of rotation reaches a predeterminod and variable speed. accordingto the application in view, the centrifugal force" acting upon the elements oi the expanding ring causes the latter to engage the inner face or" the clutch cup and to thus produce an autoimrtic clutchin 5 effect which operates by itself without the use of pedals or operating levers. I in cases where the apparatus is applied t a motor vehicle, the expanding ring" is'preterably fixed upon the motor wheel by means of pins when the said ring is made of a plastic material.

The expanding ring elements designed to engage the interior surface of the clutch cu p in order to produce the clutching effect are preferably provided with friction plates, such as terrodo, inserted between the drivinn ring and the clutch cup fixed upon the driven shaft.

The appended drawing shows by way of example an automatic clutch device accordinc; to thepresent invention.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional. view showing a clutch in which the BXI'JflJldlIlg ring; is of plastic material. 7 v

Fig. 2 is a :front elevation of the expandin 9; ring separated.

Fig. 3 is a planvicw of same.

The clutching device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a ring}; or crown made of plastic material such as india rubber, provided with slots extending radially upon the major part of its length in order to constitute the expanding elements or segments 1; the slots exshown, this connection is ensured by means ot p ns fixed to the wheel 3 and provided with a thicker part 1 which is forced into anden- ,eages in recesses in the portion of the crown which is not provided with slots in order to prevent the whole of the latter from movin longitui'liually on said pins. n

The elastic segments 1 are provided with l l shapciil openings 5 the section of which i reases from plane ?)-b to plane a-n,, Fi 1, in order to facilitate their radialdisplac dment and in which the pins used for counectmg and rotating the expanding ring are engaged. A ball bearing 6 retained iii the part 2 oi the ring serves to support andeenter the end oi the driven shaft 7 in said'rino'.

The clutch cup 8 which constitiites the female part of the clutching device is in the present instance of cylindrical shape and keyed upon said shaft.

The elastic segments 1 are :ulvanta eousl Provided on their outer surface wiitl ictio i plates 9 oil? jlerrodo for instance dos; mod to ensure the proper adherence ol tl'io se ments upon the inner face of cu S- 1115; plates may be, fixed upon the elastic n'ihterial by any appropriate means such as screws 10 having their heads embedded in the material so as not to project outside.

The operation of the device constriiictcd in the manner WlllCh has just been described is as follows:

The motor being started carries along the shaft 11 and consequently the flywheel, 3 and the whole of the elastic ring by means of the pins 4.

When the speed is'slow or such that it causes only a very slight extension of the segments 1, no clutching 01 the driven shaft -mat-ic coupling for electric shafts. hen the rotation of the driving shaft slows down so as to be under the predetermined speed, the segments 1 by reason of theirelasticity come nearer to the centr thus causing automatically the disengagementoi the cup 8 and consequently that of the driven shaft. I 7

As will be seen, the device constructed in the manner above described provides a clutching and unclutching apparatus having a thoroughly automatic action and operating Withoutthe use ot any driving mechanism merely under-the action of centrifugal force. It constitutes also a flexible coupling device inserted between the motor and the driven shaft, thus avoiding all jerks in the transmissions,especially when starting. 7

The present device may be applied advantageously to motor cars eitheras a clutch in which case it-l acilitates starting and passing from one speed to another, or as an autostarter motors. It-can also be the objectof numerous applications and be used clutcl means tor mechanical transmissions.

I claim:

1. In an automatic clutch, clutching member comprising a slotted ring of rubber to provide a series of segments rigidly connected therewith forengageinent by centrifugal force. e I

2. In an automatic clutch, a clutching member comprising a longitudinally slottee ring of rubber to provide a series ot segments integrally connected at one end and Whose free ends engage by centrifugal force.

3. In an automatic clutch, a clutching member comprising an expanding ring oi? rubber longitudinally slotted to form segments at one end of the ring, and friction shoes on the contacting faces of said segments.

l. In an automatic clutch, a driving element comprising a plate, a rubber ring slotted to form segments over a portion or ment comprising a olate. a rubber rin lon- A is l V 1 i gitudinally slotted a portion of its length to form segments, said segments having lonitudinal tapering bores, and pins secured o said plate and extending into said bores.

6. A centrifugal clutch comprising a drivint;- shaft, a driven shaft, a ring of plastic material such as rubber radially slotted for a portion of its length to form extensible segments, friction plates on the external faces of such se ments, means to connect said ring to the or shaft, a cup surrounding thering and means to connect said cup to the driven shaft.

T. 21' automatic clutch for motor vehicles and other mechanical applications comprising driving shaft, a driven shaft, a ring of plastic material such as india rubber slotted re .lially upon partof its length in a manner to it expanding segments, means to conling ring to the driving shaft,

7 each cup s 'ounding said expanding ring and neans to connectsaid cup to the driven shaft.

8.3211 automatic clutch for motor vehicles her mechanical applications, comp driv ng shaft and a driven Oil a cone in the Whole of the ring to allow the passing through of the pins, recesses formed i said openings to accommodate the retaining ranges of the pins, a clutch up surrounding said ring and means to connect said cup to the driven shaft.

In testimony that I claim thetoregoing as my invention, I have signed my name.

BERNARD IiIAUVILLIER. 

